By Hafeedoh Balogun
Every Saturday, there is another Nigerian wedding to witness! But, one thing is for sure, the cost for one wedding is different from the other. For Nigerian weddings, a few things can affect your final wedding spend - how well you can negotiate with vendors, any family and friends discounts, etc.
However, no matter what your wedding looks like, certain expenses are hard to exclude from your budget. In this blog post, we will take a closer look at the various expenses involved in planning a Nigerian wedding, so that you can better understand the true cost of this special event.
1. Venue
Except you plan to hold your wedding in your personal residence, paying for a wedding venue is unavoidable. The venue is one of the most significant expenses for a Nigerian wedding. Depending on the location and size of the venue, you can expect to pay anywhere from NGN 250,000 to NGN 4,000,000. Some popular venues in Nigeria include hotels, event centers, and outdoor locations like gardens.
2. Food & Drinks
If you know Nigerians, you know that we don’t play with our food. Good food adds to the experience; if the catering is good, your event will be memorable in the minds of your guests.
How much you spend on food & drinks is majorly influenced by the number of guests. Other factors include the type of food or drink (Nigerian vs. continental or alcoholic drinks vs. non-alcoholic drinks) and the reputation of the catering company. On average, you can expect to pay anywhere from NGN 200,000 to NGN 1,o00,000 for catering at a Nigerian wedding.
3. Photography and Videography
Your wedding day is supposed to be one of the happiest days of your life! Hiring a media team means that you can look back and reminisce about your wedding day through well-captured pictures and videos.
The number of events you have will affect your media budget, as professionals typically charge more for capturing multiple events. Another thing that can influence your spending is extra costs related to vendors traveling for your wedding - accommodation and travel fare.
A professional photographer or videographer can cost anywhere from NGN 100,000 to NGN 400,000, depending on the level of experience and quality of their work.
4. Wedding Decor
Wedding decor play an essential role in creating a festive and beautiful atmosphere for your wedding day. The type of venue you choose will influence your decoration needs, e.g., hotels may require less decoration because they tend to look nice already.
You can expect to spend anywhere from NGN 100,000 to NGN 500,000 on decor, depending on the size and style of your wedding.
5. Wedding Attire and Accessories
Brides need a wedding dress for their religious or traditional ceremony and accessories from shoes to jewelry. Grooms are not left of this equation!
The number of outfits will impact your wedding attire spend. The cost of the bridal gown, groom suit, veil, jewelry, and shoes can add up quickly, and you can expect to spend anywhere from NGN 100,000 to NGN 500,000 on these items.
6. Music and Entertainment
Music and entertainment are essential to any Nigerian wedding, and you can expect to spend a considerable amount of money on these services. The cost of a DJ or live band can range from NGN 100,000 to NGN 400,000, depending on the reputation of the performer and the type of music they are playing.
6. Wedding Planning and Coordination
Some couples hire a wedding planner or coordinator because of convenience or lack of experience planning an event. Professional planners are not cheap, but it is a service that has helped some couples survive wedding planning.
Wedding planning agencies range from standard to luxury, so choose a planner that fits within your budget. Also, their pricing differs by package - you would typically pay more for packages where the planner is more hands-on vs. a package where they only handle on-the-day coordination. The cost of a wedding planner can range from NGN 50,000 to NGN 300,000, depending on their level of experience and the services they are providing.
Your wedding budget is very personal - even with the detail we have provided on certain typical wedding planning costs, it all still depends on how much you are willing to spend! How much can a couple and their families raise comfortably for this wedding event? Avoid going off and spending all your money on wedding expenses. Be wise, shine your eyes well well.
